Torkham Border

• Recently, Pakistan and Afghanistan security forces exchanged gunfire at the Torkham border crossing.
• The clash occurred due to a dispute over border post construction.
• The border has been closed for over a week, impacting trade and civilian movement

About Torkham Border Crossing

• Location: A key transit point between Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Afghanistan (Nangarhar Province).
• Importance: Facilitates trade and travel, serving as the busiest border crossing between the two nations.
• Humanitarian Concerns

1. Critical Timing: The border closure comes during Ramadan, a period when food imports typically surge to meet increased demand.
2. Escalating Food Insecurity: Afghanistan is already grappling with a severe hunger crisis, with millions at risk of starvation.

• Impact of Taliban Rule & Aid Reduction:

1. International sanctions have severely restricted Afghanistan’s banking sector, limiting financial transactions.
2. Declining foreign aid has further exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, making it difficult to secure essential supplies.